Chapter 16
VALEN
I’m putting the finishing lemon squeeze on salmon when Ava walks through the door. She breezes by without a word and deposits her purse on the island. Flopping down onto a barstool, she lays her head on the counter with a huff.
Pom Pom runs over to her from his station by my feet, and from the sound of his nails on the tile, I’m certain he’s hopping in the hopes of jumping up on her.
Ava peeks at him from under her mass of hair with a smile and brings him up to her lap.
I’ll never not be amazed at the energy such a small ball of fluff has.
He’s also mischievous when it comes to stealing my socks and hiding them.
“Everything okay?” I ask while I bring the plate of food and utensils over to her.
I might not need to eat human food for sustenance, but ever since I discovered the Food Network on Ava’s television, I’ve found that I enjoy cooking for her.
Nothing pleases me more than the sounds of happiness from my mate when she tries something she particularly likes.
There have been a few disasters, but they are happening less and less lately.
“This looks delicious. How did you know salmon was one of my favorites?” Ava takes in the salmon, asparagus, and homemade mashed potatoes.
“Celine,” I admit and sit beside her with a glass of pre-poured blood.
Ava doesn’t make it awkward that I don’t typically eat her human food, although she’ll feed me bits and pieces to try.
“That’s so sweet of you, Valen. Thank you.” She sets Pom Pom on the seat next to her and digs in. The moan she lets out goes straight to my groin. If she figures out this is why I enjoy cooking for her, then I’m in trouble.
“Tell me what is wrong,” I prompt her once more.
“Nothing. Just frustrated and not wanting to get my hopes up that I’ll be able to access my powers. How am I supposed to untangle something I didn’t know I had until recently?”
“Jade did say I might be able to help you. If you are willing to try.”
She gives my knee a reassuring squeeze. “Let me devour this amazing salmon and then we can give it a shot.” Ava shoots a grin my way and squirts more lemon on a flaky piece.
Pom Pom barks so he can be part of the conversation, and she sneaks him a tiny piece, which he happily accepts. The dog won’t leave my side when I’m home, and if he does, it’s to cuddle with Ava. The other morning, I found him snuggled up above her head like a decorative pillow.
“How was your day?” Ava garbles around a mouthful of food.
I swallow the blood I just sipped and rest my head on my hand. “Good. I read some at the library and then watched more Vampire Diaries.”
“Without me? I thought you called it useless drivel,” Ava cries, giving a tiny pout of her bottom lip.
“I had to see if Elena went back to Stefan or not.” I shrug.
She’d thrown on the show, as she called it, and I found myself sucked into the fictional story of a woman torn between two vampires.
It’s highly amusing to see how much they got wrong about our kind, but I can’t help the guilty pleasure it has become.
I look forward to watching it with her under the guise of reading in the corner.
“I can’t believe you,” she huffs, but there’s amusement in her tone, so I think that means she’s secretly pleased I like the show.
I throw back the remaining contents of my glass and feel the cool liquid slide down my throat.
Zavier warned me of the constant thirst that would rack my body the longer I didn’t solidify the mate bond with Ava.
I haven’t told her any of my symptoms, not wanting to pressure her into anything.
Truth be told, a large part of me is insecure about my atypical sense of affection and lackluster sexual history.
As an angel, we’re taught to be celibate and ignore carnal urges.
When Ava and I do become one, I want it to be special for her and not awkward because I’m inexperienced.
Unfortunately, I think that awkwardness is going to be inevitable.
“Let’s try and get this thing done.” Ava wipes her mouth and throws her napkin down with a flourish. “It’s comfortable in the living room.”
Pom Pom and I follow her to a sitting position on the rug. My familiar plants himself in my lap and his tail brushes against my leg, his happiness to be a part of what we are doing evident.
I grab Ava’s tiny hands when she holds them out and run a finger over the smooth surface of her pink polished nails. She lets out a breath and closes her eyes, so I follow suit.
“Clear your mind and focus on your breathing,” Ava murmurs.
Silence rings through the room, aside for Pom Pom’s snuffles.
Ava’s floral scent swirls around me like a gentle hug and her soft hands are a welcome weight.
Her heartbeat is slow and steady, so I time my breath to hers even though it’s not necessary for me.
I feel her essence, her kindness, her beauty inside and out.
All of it flows around us. Opening one eye, I see her aura has expanded to double the size it normally is, and it’s beautiful.
The more I tune myself in to her, the more I feel the gentle pulse of something more within her chest.
“I feel it,” Ava whispers and tightens her hold on me.
With her encouragement, I attempt to pull on that pulsing beat. She gasps, and I stop, not wanting to hurt her.
Ava shifts in place. “Don’t stop. I’m okay.”
Pulling once more, I feel for a tangible end to unravel in the endless loop of magic. It’s tight, though, pulled so taut that as I tug at it mentally, it feels more like I’m physically yanking at it. A tightness forms in my brow as I concentrate.
The scent of arousal blooms around us, and I stiffen at the delectable scent. “Ava?”
“Wow, that feels unreal.” Sweat drips down her neck and falls between the valley of her breasts. I watch, enraptured, my fangs pressing against my gums in desperation to plunge into that very spot. My breath catches, and if she hears, she doesn’t open her eyes.
I can’t stop myself from asking. “What does it feel like?”
“Jade didn’t tell me it would feel this intimate with your help.
” She pauses, and I bristle at the image of anyone else doing this with Ava.
“It feels like our bodies are plastered against one another. Skin upon skin and my magic twining with your essence. It’s the closest I’ve felt to my powers.
I can feel it now, like an animal that’s been in hibernation and is beginning to stir. ”
At the imagery she paints, I swallow thickly. Ava brings to light fantasies I couldn’t have imagined before her. She is light and love and sin and temptation wrapped up in one. If I had come across her during my days as an angel, I surely would’ve fallen for the chance to be with her.
“Keep going,” Ava prompts.
I repeat the pulling, and a swell of heat radiates between us. Our heads lean closer to each other, and I lick my lips at the sight of her luscious pout.
What would it feel like to kiss her?
Resolving myself to finding out, it feels like a thundering symphony building to its crescendo. Just when we’re about to fall headfirst over the cliff and my lips are about to touch hers, the door slams open with a thud. Both Ava and I jump in surprise.
On any given day I’d be more aware of my surroundings, but the pink-haired witch in front of me has a way of tuning me in to only her and letting the rest of the world fade away.
“Guys! I think it’s time for a familiar play—” The words die on our intruder’s lips. “Were you about to kiss?” Zavier rushes in with a jovial dance and a grin that nearly swallows his entire face. “Holy shit, you were. Fucking finally!”
Ava drops my hands with a tired sigh, and I frown at the lost connection.
Shooting Zavier a glare, I stand up with fluid grace while holding Pom Pom to my chest. It’s then I notice the black cat draped around his shoulders.
Midnight watches Pom Pom with disinterest while the latter happy wiggles in my arms at the idea of a new friend.
I tighten my hold, protective of my little fluff ball.
“My babies are growing up,” Zav squeaks like an excited toddler. “You crazy kids are taking the next step. I’m so proud.” His features still and a new look enters his eyes. He quickly goes from toddler to pestering parent when he asks, “Do I need to give you the safe sex talk?”
“Ew, shut up.” Ava pushes at him playfully. Her cheeks are flushed, and she tries to play off the fire still simmering between us. She looks over at me, and when she finds me staring, she quickly drops her eyes.
I scrunch my face in annoyance at the red-haired vampire.
“Well.” Zav draws out the word, ignoring my glare. “Since I’m already here, let’s have the official meeting of these two.” He places Midnight down, and I do the same with Pom Pom, though reluctantly.
Midnight’s tail flicks in irritation as the Pomeranian runs in a circle around the cat and attempts to lick his face. He doesn’t hiss, but his displeasure is apparent.
“Come on, Midnight. You need to make friends other than me.”
Pom Pom assumes downward dog position, ready to play, but Midnight saunters over to me and stretches up on my pant leg like I’m his personal cat tree.
When he starts to climb, I support his body and let him up on my shoulders.
Soft fur nuzzles against my cheek, and I give a long stroke down his back. Okay, maybe he’s not so bad.
Both Zavier and Pom Pom growl in our direction, and I look over to see Zavier holding Pom Pom under his arm. It’s kind of hilarious how similar they look.
“Midnight! You’re cheating right in front of my face.” Zav pouts his bottom lip, and I’m almost certain those are real tears in his eyes.
“You did tell him to make new friends,” Ava laughs, playing with the ends of her hair. Something I’ve come to learn she does when she’s feeling uncomfortable.
“Not with the crusty, dusty vampire. I meant with his fellow familiar.” Pom Pom barks and Zavier gives him a pat.
“See? He’s not happy about it either.” Pulling a small swatch of fabric from his back pocket, Zavier fits it over Pom Pom and smiles.
“I even brought friendship sweaters for the two, although Midnight was being a tad difficult.”
Ava scratches the cat in question behind his ear, and his purr vibrates through my shoulders.
“Looks like your emotional support puss has moved on,” she muses. “Too bad for you.”
Zav pouts. “Never. We’re just going through a rough patch. I told him it was an accident that I got the wrong flavored food. It’ll never happen again. I thought he might be bored and want to try something new, but I was wrong.”
I smell Celine enter the hallway, probably in search of her missing mate.
Celine meanders in with an amused smirk, her glossy dark brown strands pulled back in a ponytail. I’ve rarely seen her with her hair down.
“Zav, get back home and stop bothering these two.” She gives my familiar a gentle kiss on the head before depositing him in Ava’s awaiting arms.
Midnight must sense it’s time to go home, because he hops from my shoulders to wander back through the apartment and over to theirs.
“Ugh, fine,” Zav groans, turning toward the door. “Ava and Valen sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G,” Zav singsongs as she quite literally drags him away by the collar.
Shaking my head, I catch Ava’s eye and smile, both because of the chaos of our found family and because of the bond we’ve further solidified. She holds my gaze and gives me a tiny smile in return. I pocket that smile like a treasure, solely mine for the keeping.